Celebrating Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
When it comes to aviation maintenance, our global team of technicians works tirelessly to deliver flawless results. Aviation Maintenance Technicians use their unique training and experience, along with deep expertise and a passion for aviation, to ensure customer satisfaction. To celebrate Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, we recognize three AMTs who enable Pratt & Whitney to Go Beyond.
Kaitlyn Sooklal
HPC Static/CIC lead
West Palm Beach, Florida
At 13 years old, Kaitlyn attended a Veterans Day parade in New York City that sparked her passion for aviation and put her on the path toward her career. “That parade really highlighted the importance of aviation. After speaking with people who were flying and maintaining aircraft in the military, I knew right away I wanted to get into the aviation field,” said Sooklal.
Kaitlyn went on to attend Aviation High School in Queens, where she first learned about Pratt & Whitney and joined the company in 2015 following graduation. She now works as a HPC Static/CIC lead at the West Palm Beach facility.
Sooklal has spent most of her career working on the Geared Turbofan™ engine, first starting as an assembly and test mechanic on the production line for the A320neo. “There is a huge sense of pride that comes with being part of the success with the GTF. I was part of the early stages and now to see it being used commercially on hundreds of flights – it’s a great feeling.” Her most memorable day on the job so far? “Seeing the first flyover of the GTF here in West Palm Beach. It was amazing seeing our work come to life.”
Sooklal emphasized it’s not only the successful work at the end of a project that makes her feel accomplished, but the sense of teamwork in achieving that success. “Everyone is always working together to get things done – it is a really understanding environment.” While this role brings an enormous amount of responsibility, Sooklal says that is what drives her to always do her best. “When we’re dealing with engine parts, we have to deliver successful work every time. It’s a lot of responsibility, but there is also a lot of pride that comes with seeing your finished product and knowing you made it happen.”
Marion Keeys
BX1 Inspector
Columbus, Georgia
Marion Keeys, who started working for Pratt & Whitney in 2020, said his first year on the job showed him there’s a “true sense of family” on his team.
Keeys, a former U.S. Air Force jet engine mechanic, says the presence of fellow veterans at the company has helped him make the transition to a civilian career. “The facility I’m at now is so closely aligned with what I was doing in the military – not only the work on jet engines, but the people. A lot of the people I work with are prior servicemen and women, and it really is like a family. I can genuinely rely on every single person I work with.”
Keeys inspects main engine bearings for the F100, which powers the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, to ensure the parts are perfect before returning to the engine. “My role is really vital because I’m one of the only people qualified to do these specific inspections, and that makes me feel really valued.”
Keeys expressed the pride he has for his career and knowing he has a hand in the company’s success. “Whenever I see an F100 anywhere, even when I’m watching a movie with my family, I make sure to pause it and tell my kids ‘I fix that! I did that!’ Pride – it’s the only way to describe it.”
But his most cherished memory at Pratt & Whitney doesn’t have to do with engine bearings or any engine for that matter – it’s about his team members. “When I first started – when I was the new guy – we would have food trucks that came to the warehouse every week. I was amazed at how many people would buy food just to share with me and make sure I was experiencing their favorite dish. It was such a warm welcome and I really hadn’t felt anything like it since the military.”
To the people who may be on the fence about getting into the aviation maintenance field, Keeys’ advice is: “Don’t be intimidated. It is a big job, but people are always willing to help you. If you’re flexible and willing to communicate, there’s nothing that can stop you.”
Jose Luna
Mobile Repair Team (MRT)
Jose Luna had always been interested in keeping things running, but when he learned about aviation maintenance back at Skyline High School in Dallas, his path was set. “I’ve always liked the idea of working in maintenance because of the satisfaction it brings after a job is complete. Once I was introduced to the aviation side, I knew that was the route I wanted to take.”
Luna, who joined Pratt & Whitney in 2017, works on the Mobile Repair Team, fixing various engines including the PT6 and PW800 families and primarily servicing aircraft on ground (AOG). In this fully mobile role, no two days look the same. “This job is 100 percent travel. You really don’t have a set routine – you have to be ready to get on a plane and go to wherever the customer is located.”
The job has taken Luna all over the world, including some tropical destinations like St. Barts. “If you’re interested in a role on the Mobile Repair Team, you really need to enjoy traveling,” Luna advised.
A fondness for travel isn’t the only thing a prospective MRT member should have. “You have to be able to troubleshoot. Those skills are invaluable on the job,” says Luna. “Most of the time, we won’t know what the exact issue is until we are on site and can evaluate. You have to be able to problem solve on the spot and move quickly.”
There is nothing better than when that troubleshooting leads to a solution. “Nothing makes me feel more accomplished than having a happy customer. That’s what it’s all about.”
Luna attributes his success as an MRT in large part to his wife and two kids. “When you’re in a role like this with so much travel, you really have to have a strong partner at home. It’s really become a lifestyle for my family.”
